Dr.Chao gets reamed!!!

SAN DIEGO — A jury has awarded $5.2 million in damages to a woman who was injured when using a cold-therapy device recommended by her doctor, David Chao, the head team physician for the San Diego Chargers.​

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The panel on Wednesday found that Chao and his company, Oasis Sports Medical Group, were negligent in their diagnosis and treatment of Whitney Engler, who was 15 when she underwent knee surgery nine years ago.​

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According to court documents, Chao prescribed Engler a device called a Polar Care 500, which she was to apply to her knee to help speed her recovery. A short time later, she was diagnosed with frostbite, which led to permanent injuries, including disfigurement.​

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She then sued Chao and Oasis for malpractice. Also named in the suit was Breg Inc., which had designed and manufactured the device.​

Engler’s award is for her past and future economic losses as well as her pain and suffering, according to the verdict forms. The jurors are expected to return to court Tuesday to consider whether punitive damages are warranted.​

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Marc Stern, the plaintiff’s lawyer, declined to comment Friday.​

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Chao’s attorney, Bob Frank, said in a telephone interview that Engler’s surgery was a success and that the full function of her knee was restored. He said she returned to playing sports.​

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Frank said the issue was one of product liability. He said the Polar Care device was used as recommended and “exactly like thousands of other doctors nationwide have used it.”​

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According to Engler’s lawsuit, Breg had been sued five to eight times since 1998 for cold injuries related to the Polar Care unit.​

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In 1999, a lawsuit was filed in Superior Court against the same three defendants after a San Diego man suffered “third-degree frostbite burns” as a result of using the cold-therapy device. The suit was eventually settled.​

According to USA Today, team doctor David Chao was forced to pay $5.2 million to a non-football related defendant who sued him for malpractice. It stands as the latest in a long line of legal run-ins for Chao, who continues to be employed by the team. The Chargers did not respond to a request for comment.

Chao must know where all the skeletons are buried....... the only explanation why that quack is still employed.

How does this guy still have a medical license and a job with the Bolts?

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He has to have something on the bosses, right?

Considering the team seems to love their "high character guys", how has this dude slipped through the cracks?

I mean, how is it possible to get publicly embarrassed for being negligent at your job, have half the team out injured seemingly every year, and still have your job?? More to the point, how has he still got a medical licence? lol